"Baron, magical beasts often appear at the edge of the Thorns Ridge. Please stay close to me and do not rush ahead." Upon reaching this point, Marcus took the lead and instructed the four squire knights, "Protect the Baron well. Unless you become a corpse, do not let the magical beast advance even one step. Can you do it!"

"We can do it!" Carl and the others responded loudly.

They came from commoner backgrounds. Here, commoners are not required to go to war; only nobles and knights are. But although squire knights are commoners by status, they still have to go to the battlefield—as logistics soldiers. With better treatment comes the responsibility to die for the nobles.

To avoid magical beasts, the group of knights could only skirt along the edge of the Thorns Ridge.

The forest was still fairly dense. Occasionally, wild animals like rabbits and foxes could be seen. The edge of the Thorns Ridge was not rich in food, so large beasts were rarely encountered.

"In spring, summer, and autumn, the food in the Thorns Ridge can satisfy the magical beasts, so Flower Town rarely encounters them. But in winter, hungry magical beasts often invade Flower Town. Every year, a few unlucky souls are eaten by magical beasts."

No matter how bad his mood, Marcus still did things meticulously, relaying information about the Thorns Ridge one by one.

"Magical beasts... I wonder if we'll encounter one today." Edward Thompson searched through his predecessor's memories and had seen several types of magical beasts. Compared to ordinary beasts, the biggest difference is that magical beasts possess magic and can cast powerful spells.

Tulip Castle also raised a small magical beast—the Fire Rabbit.

The Fire Rabbit could cast small fireballs, had delicious meat, and bright fur. Nobles liked to eat Fire Rabbit meat, while noble ladies preferred fur coats made from Fire Rabbit pelts.

He had also seen the pelt of a powerful magical beast—the Giant Savage Bear. The Earl of Coral Island's favorite chair was covered with the pelt of a Giant Savage Bear, its ferocious head fully tanned, exuding an intimidating and savage aura.

It was said that to hunt the Giant Savage Bear, the Coral Island Knights lost eight Earth Knights.

Eight Earth Knights—enough to seriously weaken the knight order. Even in a territorial war, so many Earth Knights might not fall.

Not to mention, even more trainee knights died.

Along the way, Edward Thompson continuously recorded the terrain of the Thorns Ridge: where was suitable for building fortifications, where for waterworks, where for constructing fortresses, and where for opening up farmland. These were all duties required of a landed feudal lord.

"Lunch time, Alden, prepare lunch here."

"Yes, sir!" Alden·Shoe Insole immediately dismounted, found a flat spot, laid out a carpet, and placed the rations on it one by one.

A simple lunch: bread, caviar, fruit salad, and milk tea.

There was also special goat jerky for Edward Thompson.

He thought it would be just a simple lunch, but after swallowing a piece of bread, Marcus's expression suddenly changed: "Baron, something's up. It's the aura of a magical beast!"

Chapter 6: Earth Knight and Wind Blade Wolf

As an Earth Knight, Marcus's battle aura made him highly sensitive to things like magic and battle aura. If he said there was a magical beast, there was no mistake.

Edward Thompson immediately tensed up.

The four squire knights hurriedly packed up the tableware. They were ordinary people, not even having cultivated battle aura. Facing a magical beast was basically suicide.

Marcus had already mounted his horse: "Don't bother packing up the tableware. Protect the Baron and get him on his horse. Prepare for battle!"

The squire knights rushed over to help Edward Thompson mount.

But Edward Thompson, after all, was a trainee knight with primary battle aura, much stronger than ordinary people. Suppressing his nervousness, he had already mounted his horse. No matter how majestic the Fire Dragon Horse was, it was still young and had never been to battle, so it was nervous as well. Edward Thompson had to reach out and stroke its mane to calm it.

Snort!

Encouraged by its master, the Fire Dragon Horse relaxed its tense body. As a birthday gift from the Earl to his son, its bloodline was excellent, descended from the low-level magical beast, the Fire Steed, and highly adaptable.

In just a few breaths.

The magical beast sensed by Marcus had already emerged from the depths of the forest. It was a huge gray wolf with two pale blue stripes on its body.

"It's a Wind Blade Wolf! A low-level magical beast! Fall back, I'll handle it!" Marcus raised his short lance. Though called a short lance, it was actually a knight's lance for close combat, longer than a person.

With that,

Marcus suddenly let out a loud roar: "Hah!"

Intermediate battle aura resonated in his mouth like a bomb exploding, the tremendous roar making the surrounding leaves tremble.

He hoped to scare off the Wind Blade Wolf.

The Wind Blade Wolf crouched low, retreating slightly, as if about to withdraw—but it was just a prelude to attack. Marcus squeezed his horse's belly, charged forward on his yellow-gray horse, and thrust his lance in a fierce assault.

The Wind Blade Wolf immediately leapt at Marcus, and at the same time, several pale blue wind blades suddenly appeared in front of it, spinning and slicing toward Marcus.